Hot Off the Press

Dual Schuler Hydroforming Lines Headed for Posco in South Korea

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Early in 2005, South Korean steelmaker Posco will install a pair of hydroforming lines to produce engine cradles and rear-suspension components for automotive manufacturers. In an announcement made at EuroBLECH in Hanover, Germany, in October, Schuler explained that the lines will include three bending cells with automatic feeding units to pre-bend the tubes, two 5000-ton hydroforming presses and three dies, with automated die-changing systems. Also included are end-cut and laser-trimming stations and final wash stations. Annual line capacity is 500,000 engine cradles and 1 million suspension components. Tube is of 2.5-mm-thick mild steel, 90-mm dia.

Aida Group Takes Over Manzoni, Rovetta

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

Italian press builder Manzoni Group S.p.A. has sold its Manzoni and Rovetta business to Aida Group, concluding talks that began in May 2004 and had resulted in a preliminary agreement on September 25. The move completes Aida’s mission to establish production and sales bases in the four poles—Japan, America, Europe and Asia. The new company will be named Aida S.r.l., but will continue production under the Manzoni and Rovetta brands.

Pepperl+Fuchs Acquires Product-Identification Firm

Friday, October 29, 2004

Pepperl+Fuchs, Twinsburg, OH, supplier of factory- and process-automation products and services, has acquired Omnitron, a German-based supplier of Data Matrix 2D optical-coding readers for product identification and online data recording. Data Matrix technology allows detailed information to be imprinted, by any printing process, on the smallest of products, with feature size as small as 0.25 mm. For more information, log on to www.pepperl-fuchs.com.